Tuesday, April 16, 2013

Queen Guitarist Dr. Brian May Speaks Out Against Animal Suffering At Imperial College London

The BUAV has welcomed support from Imperial College London graduate and Queen guitarist Dr Brian May, following its release of disturbing evidence of terrible animal suffering, poor practice and wrongdoing at one of the University’s animal research laboratories.

Dr Brian May said, "I am shocked and saddened to see these revelations. And ashamed that it could have taken place in the University of my own training, in which I have had so much pride. I can only fully support the work of BUAV and the RSPCA in conducting a full inquiry. And I hope the result will be that this appalling cruelty will never be allowed to happen again.

“Research on animals is an outdated concept – unethical, and unsupportable now that it is known that it yields false results. There is now, in every case, a better alternative.

“Experimentation on animals must now come to an end, and I urge Imperial College to use this opportunity to put all cruelty in the past, by eliminating animal experimentation, and thereby set an example to the world.”

Dr May’s call follows a BUAV investigation in which an investigator worked for seven months at Imperial College and documented a catalogue of shortcomings and wrongdoing by staff and researchers that caused even more distress and suffering to the animals in its care than was allowed in the experiments.

Findings included: breaches in and lack of knowledge of UK Home Office project licences; a failure to provide adequate anaesthesia and pain relief; incompetence and neglect and highly disturbing methods used to kill animals.

The UK Government and research industry repeatedly claim that the UK has some of the highest welfare standards in the world for animals in laboratories, yet huge secrecy surrounds animal research. This BUAV investigation has shown the reality of these welfare claims at one of the UK’s leading universities, with breaches of the regulatory regime and inappropriate licensing and enforcement by the Home Office.

Michelle Thew, Chief Executive of the BUAV stated: “We welcome the support from eminent scientist, rock-guitarist and Save Me wildlife campaigner Dr Brian May who has spoken out against the shocking revelations uncovered by the BUAV during our investigation at Imperial College London. Please join Brian in supporting our call for an urgent independent inquiry.”

The BUAV is urging the UK Government to revoke the Establishment Licence of Imperial College London and set up an inquiry, wholly independent of the Home Office, into the concerns they raise.